South African Winelands

South African Winelands Travel Guide

For many, Cape Town has long been a focal point for South African travel, and it's easy to get caught up in its myriad of vibrant attractions, But a glance north opens up a whole other world of sightseeing opportunities. Thanks to its dry, mountainous climate, the area is home to more than 300 vineyards and is one of the World's largest wine producers. South African Winelands travel attracts oenophiles with vintages that range from Sauvignon blanc to its famed red Pinotage. Unsurprisingly, the region is a hotbed of first-class restaurants as well. Whether you plan on spending a day or a week exploring this wealth of culinary riches, Travel + Leisure's South African Winelands travel guide can help.

Things Not to Miss in the South African Winelands

• Taking a guided bike tour between the area's standout estates, then pairing local wines with local cuisine at one of its top-flight restaurants
• Exploring the area's untamed beauty at the Paarl Mountain Natural Reserve
• Learning more about the region's multicultural heritage at exhibits at the Afrikaans Language Museum and more
• Stroll through historic towns like Stellenbosch and Franschhoek along streets of quaint boutiques, eateries and more

When to Go to the South African Winelands

Autumn harvest in the Southern hemisphere is the ideal time to visit the South African Winelands. Between March and May, the weather is warm and sunny, and there is minimal wind. Summer (November through January) also attracts a lot of visitors with warm sun and late sunsets. If you're traveling in the winter, be prepared for cool, wet weather and temperature drops once the sun goes down.

Articles about South African Winelands

Consider, if you will, the vegetable garden. Every Afrikaner farm worth its salt has one—a testament to the white African tribe’s almost mythic love for the land—and there’s no reason why Babylonstoren, a handsome, 1692-built Cape Dutch homestead ...

$728 per nightLa Residence, Franschhoek
Location An 11-room hotel on a 30-acre farm and vineyard overlooking the upscale enclave of Franschhoek. First Impressions High marks for the welcome: general manager Edward Morton greets guests with a posy...

Whenever I ask friends bound for South Africa how they'll be spending their time, invariably the response is the same: several days or a week exploring Cape Town and the Garden Route, followed by a safari. Will you go to the Winelands, I ask?Oh, t...

Q: Where can I find affordable designer pieces in Milan? —Kathryn Mills, Huntington, N.Y.
A: Before your trip, order Marina Martorana’s book Low Cost (Antonio Vallardi; lafeltrinelli.it; $18; in Italian only). It has the addresses of more than 50...

What it is
A strikingly beautiful region of mountains and whitewashed Cape Dutch architecture, the Swartland—literally "black land," for the color of its tangled undergrowth—extends north along the Atlantic coast from just beyond the outskirts o...

Napa Valley, California
The newest incarnation of the pioneering 30-year-old restaurant at Domaine Chandon is Étoile. Executive chef Christopher Manning cooks with a robust American sensibility, and the occasional French accent. The recently rede...